Jennifer Hudson's relatives mourned

CHICAGO - Friends and relatives of Jennifer Hudson listened to spiritual songs and reminisced about her late mother, brother, and nephew at a memorial service yesterday at the childhood church of the singer and Oscar-winning actress.

Many of those songs featured Hudson, who did not attend the memorial service for Darnell Donerson, 57, Jason Hudson, 29, and Julian King, 7.

The three were fatally shot late last month. Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia, also did not attend.

Private funeral services are scheduled for today.

At yesterday's memorial, mourners dressed in black or white hugged and greeted one another while music played on the chapel speakers at Pleasant Gift Memorial Baptist Church on the city's South Side.

Large pictures of Jason Hudson and Julian King stood at the front of the room, and relatives took turns recounting stories about the three victims.

Shari Sweat, a cousin of Darnell Hudson Donerson, called her by her nickname, "Doll," as she recounted how important the upcoming election was to her. "Doll refused to be left out of this historical moment in this nation, and before she left these shores she cast her vote," Sweat said.

Several of Julian's young cousins sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."

No one has been charged in the killings, which police have described as "domestic related."